March Training

[godsoffortune]

Who: Everyone
What: Information and Training
When: October 25th
Where: Outside the Meeting Hall, the Far Shore
Summary: Training and informational sessions for newly arrived gods and shinki



Gods and shinki arriving at heaven's meeting hall are, should they allow it, guided to the Meeting Hall, where a traditionally styled dojo and training ground have been made available for the day. The gods and shinki are free to take their time during this day to learn about the details of their new life from Amaterasu's shinki or from the many veteran new god and shinki volunteers.




God Training

Newly arrived gods are escorted into what looks like an old, large warehouse behind the Meeting Hall for an informational meeting covering the basics of proper god behavior. Several chairs have been moved in, but they're squeezed together between packed shelves and boxes of old ritual clothing, scrolls and rusty or chipped household goods. A minor deity is giving the speech, and none of the white-robed shinki enter. They are encouraged to discuss the information with each other and ask questions of more experienced gods, as well as instructed to guide their new shinki appropriately.

Shinki Training

Various shinki in the white-and-gold of Amaterasu's hosuehold are stationed around the dojo, passing out helpful informational pamphlets. They will be happy to instruct the newcomers in the use of the borderline as well as offering an explanation of what is expected of a shinki and the importance of teamwork with other shinki and with gods. Shinki are encouraged to work together to practice what they've learned and discuss their perspectives.

Back copies of the "From Ama" magazine, including puff pieces about new or rising gods or successful shinki, advice columns for resolving problems between gods and shinki, temple photographs and other articles of interest to gods and shinki, have been brought out in boxes and piled up next to a table holding a few remaining copies of the shinki questionnaire for any new shinki who want to keep one around until they can answer the included questions.


What is your name?

What is your god's name?

How do you see your duties as a shinki?

What is your favorite part of life with your god?

What is your least favorite part of life with your god?

What advice would you like to give your god?

Do you wish to be assigned to a different god? []Y []N

Physical Training

The dojo is stocked with a wide variety of practice weapons, traditional and modern, to offer some practice opportunity to gods who, for example, find themselves with a sword shinki but are at risk of cutting off their own toes. It's also useful for veteran new gods wishing to train with their current partner shinki. Several magically animated straw-stuffed training dummies, many of which have been carefully mended and patched with neat black stitching, are set up on the lawn with a white-robed shinki hovering nearby to watch over them. They make good training partners, although anyone who comes too close risks being targeted for a sparring match whether they wanted one or not.

The white-robed shinki are still busy cleaning and preparing the Meeting Hall for the big annual meeting of the gods. They'll recruit anyone who looks as though they're not too busy in order to help scrub floors, weed, sweep paths and walkways, and shoo away any unwelcome little spirits that are hiding away in dark corners of the hall. Heavy lifting is good exercise... right?

Rest and Refreshments

There are casks of fresh, cold water near the dojo to make sure no one gets dehydrated, but for those who've finished working, hot tea and enough seasonal treats are available to make it look as though the Heavens bought out an entire sweet shop. They're being distributed by a few shinki in indigo-blue and plain brown robes with the sleeves tied back, who aren't above teasing the newcomers a bit.

Young shinki are playing in the nicely manicured garden, trying to catch crayfish at the lake edge, dashing around playing tag and hide-and-seek. Just be careful you don't get caught in the middle of a game of "Kagome"! If you do, you'll really be stuck until you guess someone's name.

In Summary:

• Get all the information you can handle
• Veteran new gods and shinki are welcome to volunteer showing the ropes
• Get in some training
• Enjoy a traditional tea
• Spectate if you want
• Have fun~

Comments

[cloak]

[She stares at the void, and it stares back at her.

Which is to say, when Roxas senses he's being watched, he glances right in her direction. And after several moments of sustained silence, he points at his plate of sweets]

Did you want one?

[all_seeing_eye]

It's like you read my mind!

[And with a smile, she heads on over. She's curious about what's under the hood too, but candy is never a bad thing.]

[cloak]

[Roxas has a pretty decent mound of treats stacked on his plate, and he nudges it closer to her when she approaches. No reason not to share a good thing]

Here, go ahead.

[all_seeing_eye]

[Futaba takes a big handful, popping several into her mouth at once. Not even shy about that. And with her mouth half full of candy:]

So, what's with the cloak?

[cloak]

[He tips his hooded head in curious silence before lifting a hand to touch his uniform coat]

This...? [A thoughtful pause, and he shrugs] I don't know...

[all_seeing_eye]

Do you actually have a face under there?

[She leans in, tilting her head. Still chewing on candy.]

[cloak]

[And the shadows conceal him just as well even so close at hand]

Why wouldn't I have a face?

[all_seeing_eye]

I dunno. Usually cloaks like that are hiding something crazy, like a bunch of tentacles or something.

[cloak]

[That sounds really strange, he has to admit]

What's the point of covering something like that up?

[all_seeing_eye]

That kind of thing usually freaks people out.

[cloak]

But wouldn't it be worse if people got surprised by it later?

[all_seeing_eye]

Worse than just being terrified of it upfront, you mean?

[cloak]

[He nods, just a small bob of his hood]

Right, since then you'd question how you didn't notice, or maybe if anyone else isn't what they look like. At least, that's what I think.

[all_seeing_eye]

So does that mean you're not hiding something crazy under there?

[She extends a finger as if to poke at his face.]

[cloak]

I don't think I am.

[But he leans away from that finger, because it's a smidgen close to him]

[all_seeing_eye]

Well, whatever.

[She drops the finger.]

So what's your name?

[cloak]

I'm Roxas. [And, he totally knows what to do now, so he asks in return] What's yours?

[all_seeing_eye]

Futaba. Yog-Sothoth when I'm working. But mostly just Futaba.

[cloak]

Why do you have two names?

[all_seeing_eye]

One of them is my god name. Pretty cool, right?

[cloak]

[He jumps]

You're a god?

[Gods just come up and casually talk to shinki, just like that?]

[all_seeing_eye]

Uh... yeah. Why?

[She doesn't see a problem with that.]

[cloak]

I didn't know gods sat down and had snacks with shinki.

[Somehow he thought they'd be too busy with Important Matters]

[all_seeing_eye]

Hey, free food is free food.

[cloak]

They don't give gods food?